Indoor combustion unit

ABSTRACT

A present concrete exterior unit such as step or planter unit for a home is constructed as a hollow unit with top, bottom and side walls and with the lower portion extended downwardly below the frost line and into the basement level. An appropriate opening in the basement wall exposes the interior of the hollow unit, which is provided with a grill and a charcoal chamber beneath the grill. An air duct is integrally formed in the sidewall of the unit with an air inlet located above the ground line and with an air discharge extending in the opposite direction into the combustion chamber. The opposite sidewall of the unit includes an air exhaust fan located above the ground line to provide a forced removal of air, grease and other foreign matter as the result of combustion.

[ June 28, 1974 United States Patent 1191 Koch Attorney, Agent, orFirm--Andrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall [76] Inventor: Thomas C. Koch,2909 Birch St., La Crosse, Wis.- 54601 ABSTRACT A present concreteexterior unit such as step or .H 5 .l 3 7 9 l 9 5 J6 3 5 A3 0 N .mL PMD. FA UH 22 [l planter unit for a home is constructed as a hollow unitwith top, bottom and side walls and with the lower portion extendeddownwardly below the frost line and into the basement level. Anappropriate opening in the basement wall exposes the interior of thehollow unit,

[52] US. Cl. 126/137 [51] Int. F24b 1/18 [58] Field ofSearch.....,............ l2 6/l20, 137, 25, 8

References Cited which is provided with a grill and a charcoal chamberUNITED STATES PATENTS beneath the grill. An air duct is integrallyformedin the sidewall of the unit with an air inlet located above the groundline and with an air discharge extending in the opposite direction intothe combustion chamber. The opposite sidewall of the unit includes anair exhaust fan located above the ground line to 07 2.3 NW 228 ID IT WWmw IL 2P 3 mm WMR Tm NW HFW m 43 HHN E R O F.

provide a /1 forced removal of air, grease and other foreign matter asthe result of combustion.

4l7,858 10/1934 GreatBritain..... 2ll,628- 2/1924 Great Britain"...

.1 10 Claiiiet raw Figures INDOOR COMBUSTION UNIT BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION as a result of the accumulation of grease within the chimney.Further, the construction of the units are relatively expensive and addsignificantly to the cost of a home. There is, therefore, a verysiginificant need for a relatively low cost grill unit for incorporationinto the home I SUMMARY OF PRESENT INVENTION The present invention'isparticularly directed to an open fire grill-type unit which can beincorporated into a dwelling with a minimum expense. Generally, inaccordance with the-present invention, the grill unit is integrated intoan exterior structural element of the housing such as a preformed stepunit, a planter, or other similar unit. The integrated structural unitand grill unit can, of course, be built in place with suitable concreteblocks, bricks poured concrete or other elements but in a highlysatisfactory construction is formed as a precast unit. The grill unit isbuilt into the structure with the interior wall exposed and .providedwith a grill opening. An air inlet passageway means is also built intoasidewall of the structural unit with an upper air inlet connected byavertical channel or passageway means which terminates in an airdischarge or outlet means below the grill and within the combustiblechamber. An air exit or exhaust means is provided in spaced relation tothe air passageway means and preferably in the opposite wall. A fan mayof course by provided, preferably in the exhaust, to provide a forcedair draft for optimum burning. a v

Thus in accordance with a particularly novel construction and feature ofthe present invention, a concrete exterior member such as step orplanter unit is constructed as a hollow unit and built abutting orintegrated into the conventional basement wall. The unit extendsdownwardly below the frost line and into the basement level. Thebasement wall is formed with an appropriate opening aligned with theunit to expose the interior of the hollow unit. A grill is locatedwithin the unit and is preferably provided at the lower level of theopening with a jack-type structure to permit selective spacing of thegrill from the bottom wall of the unit. Means are provided forintroducing charcoal or other desirable combustible materials beneaththe grill. An air duct is integrally formed in the sidewall of the unitwith an air inlet located above the ground line and with anair dischargeextending in the opposite direction into the combustion area. Theopposite sidewall of the unit is preferably provided with an air exhaustunit which includes a fan or the like to provide a forced removal ofair. In addition the opening can be provided with glass doors or otherremovable or the like to prevent withdrawal of air from the room andcreation of drafts within the room if desired.

The present invention has been foundto provide a very reliable andrelatively inexpensive method of incorporating a grill unit or open firegrill into a housing unit or into a dwelling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING The drawing furnished herewith illustratesthe best mode presently contemplated by the inventor for carrying outthe present invention in which the above advantages and features areclearly disclosed as well as others which will be clearly understoodfrom the following description of the illustrated embodiments.

In the drawing:

FIG. I is a pictorial view of a grill unit incorporated into thebasement level of a dwelling;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the grill unit shown in FIG. 1 andmore clearly disclosing details of construction; I FIG. 3 is a top viewof the unit shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with parts broken away and sectioned;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken generally on line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of an exterior planter unitincorporating an open fire grill unit incorporating theteaching of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings andparticularly to FIG. 1, a, fragmentary portion of a .basement wall 1located within a ground area 2 is illustrated. The illustrated basementwall is formed of the conventional concrete block widely employed indwellings and the like. The dwelling 3 is, of course, supported upon theupper end of the basement wall generally at or somewhat above groundlevel. The dwelling 3 will have suitable door openings or the like abovethe ground level, with a suitable step assembly or unit 4 providing aconvenient walk-up to the doorway.- In accordance with the presentinvention the step unit is formed as a hollow unit having an inner wall5 which is incorporated into the basement wall 1 exposed, within thedwelling. The step unit 4 further includes a bottom wall 6 as we-l asthe usual top and the sidewalls to define a hollow chamber 7. The stepunit projects downwardly as most clearly shown shown in FIGS. 2 and 4below the ground level in accordance with the usual advisableconstruction to locate the bottom wall 6 below the three foot frostline. The chamber 7 thus projects downwardly below the frost line andthe top edge of the basement wall 1. The wall 5 is provided with anopening 8 generally in alignment with the upper portion of the chamber7, with a grill 9 suitably supported within the chamber 7 and just belowthe opening 8. The grill 9 thus is spaced upwardly slightly from thebottom wall 6 to form a combustion chamber 10 within which a suitablecombustible material such as charcoal 11 is located.

Outside air is supplied to facilitate the burning of the charcoal 11through a special integrated duct unit 12 embedded in the side wall ofthe step unit 4. The duct chamber and is provided with a discharge duct14 for supplying of the air from the exterior into the combustionchamber 10. The inlet duct 13 may be provided with a suitable perforatedclosure or cover 15 such as closely spaced louvers or a suitable pivotalslap structure such as widely employed in connection with exterior wallfans.

The air is preferably drawn into the combustion chamber through a forcedair system which, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention,includes a discharge duct 16 embedded in the opposite wall adjacent theupper end of the grill chamber. A fan 17 is mounted within the duct 16and will thus provide a means which will positively create an air draftwithin the chamber 7 causing air to move inwardly through the duct- 12to facilitate burning of the charcoal 11 and then discharging of the airas well as grease and other foreign matter through the duct 16. Theouter end wall of the duct 16 may of course also be provided with aperforated cover 8 similar to cover 15 or the like.

The opening 8 to the chamber 7 may also be provided with a set of glassdoors, not shown, to minimize the drawing of air from the dwelling andthereby minimize drafts and the like.

Further the grill 9 may of course be adjustably mounted to permitvariation in the spacing of the grill 9 from the bed of combustiblematerial 11 in accordance with conventional practice, thus the grill 9can' be provided with a plurality of fixed mounting tabs 18 to which thegrill is manually movable or the like. Alternatively, a suitablejackstructure, not shown, can be provided to support the grill 9 andinclude an actuator located exteriorly of wall 5 for selectivepositioning of the grill 9.

Further the combustion of material 11 will create ashes which must beremoved. This may be accomplished in any suitable manner such asprovided by a removable grill to allow access to the chamber 10 or anexterior door covered opening 19 may be provided for removal of theashes and the like.

The present invention thus provides a very convenient and inexpensiveconstruction of directly building a grill type unit into a dwellingwhile maintaining an efficient grilling construction.

The unit may of course use some otherfunctional unit such as a planterwhich is often provided on the exterior wall of the housing. Further theunit can be formed as a total precast unit to fit within the wallstructure as shown in FIG. 1 or as a separate unit abutting aconventional block or poured concrete basement wall having an openingaligned with the back wall of the present unit.

Thus, in FIG. 5, a planter 20 is illustrated abutting a conventionalblock basement wall 21. The upper wall of the planter is recessed as at22 in which ground is located for supporting of suitable flowers, bushesor other suitable or desired plantings, not shown. The planter 20projects downwardly below the frost line and is provided with a rearwall 23 with an opening 24 aligned with a similar opening 25 provided inthe basement wall 21. The planter 20 is sealed to the basement wall 21in any suitable manner and preferably with a sealing material 26 locatedbetween the planter and the basement wall to positively prevent leakageof water or another foreign matter from the exterior into the basement.

The grill unit for planter 20 may otherwise be constructed as describedin connection with the previous embodiment with the special air supplyduct unit 27 especially fonned within the planter and an oppositelylocated discharge duct, not shown.

Once again the unit provides very convenient means of incorporating agrill type unit into a dwelling without the normal expense associatedwith a separate grill unit.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as beingwithin the scope of the following claims, particularly pointing out anddistinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as theinvention.

1 claim:

1. A combustion chamber unit forming a part of an exterior dwellingapurtenance unit, said exterior apurtenance unit including enclosingwall means defining exterior wall portions and an interior chamber, saidunit being constructed to project substantially downwardly below groundlevel and above ground level, and said unit including an opening to saidunit or body located at least partially below ground level, and an airduct means secured within the sidewall of the unit and having an airinlet above the ground level line and a discharge opening locatedbeneath the ground level and adjacent the lower portion of the innerchamber.

2. The combustion unit of claim 1 having an exhaust duct means providedin the wall of the unit above said ground line for exhausting of airfrom the chamber.

3. The combustion chamber unit of claim 1 wherein the walls of saidapurtenance unit are of continuous concrete construction, said air ductmeans including a tubular member secured within the sidewall of the unitand extending vertically therethrough, said air inlet having arestricted outer opening to prevent entrance of foreign matter.

4. The combustion unit of claim 1 including a grill member, and mountingmeans fixedly secured within the wall means to support the grill memberin spaced relation to the bottom wall to define a combustible materialchamber.

5. The combustion unit of claim 4 wherein said grill member isadjustably mounted with respect to said bottom wall.

6. The combustion'unit of claim 1 wherein said unit constitutes anexterior step unit abutting a dwelling and having a step means and aflat porch-like area, said unit having vertical sidewalls with the airinlet duct means located in the one sidewall and the discharge ductmeans located in the opposite sidewall.

7. The combustion chamber unit of claim 1 forming a part of a dwellinghaving a basement with exterior walls and wherein said unit includes agenerally rectangular inner chamber having top, bottom, back andsidewalls and an inner wall forming a part of said basement wall withsaid opening therein.

8. The unit in accordance with claim 1 forming a part of a dwellinghaving a basement with exterior walls and wherein said unit is apreformed unit having preformed cast sidewalls, a front wall, top andbottom walls and a rear wall having an opening and means forinterconnections of the unit and the basement wall with said openingexposed within the dwelling.

9. The unit in accordance with claim 1 forming a part of a dwellinghaving a basement with exterior walls and wherein said unit is apreformed unit having preformed wherein said exterior unit is apreformed unit having opposite sidewalls and a front wall and a top andbottom wall and a rear wall defining said chamber, said rear walllocated within the basement wall and forming a continuation andintegrated part of said basement wall.

1. A combustion chamber unit forming a part of an exterior dwellingapurtenance unit, said exterior apurtenance unit including enclosingwall means defining exterior wall portions and an interior chamber, saidunit being constructed to project substantially downwardLy below groundlevel and above ground level, and said unit including an opening to saidunit or body located at least partially below ground level, and an airduct means secured within the sidewall of the unit and having an airinlet above the ground level line and a discharge opening locatedbeneath the ground level and adjacent the lower portion of the innerchamber.
 2. The combustion unit of claim 1 having an exhaust duct meansprovided in the wall of the unit above said ground line for exhaustingof air from the chamber.
 3. The combustion chamber unit of claim 1wherein the walls of said apurtenance unit are of continuous concreteconstruction, said air duct means including a tubular member securedwithin the sidewall of the unit and extending vertically therethrough,said air inlet having a restricted outer opening to prevent entrance offoreign matter.
 4. The combustion unit of claim 1 including a grillmember, and mounting means fixedly secured within the wall means tosupport the grill member in spaced relation to the bottom wall to definea combustible material chamber.
 5. The combustion unit of claim 4wherein said grill member is adjustably mounted with respect to saidbottom wall.
 6. The combustion unit of claim 1 wherein said unitconstitutes an exterior step unit abutting a dwelling and having a stepmeans and a flat porch-like area, said unit having vertical sidewallswith the air inlet duct means located in the one sidewall and thedischarge duct means located in the opposite sidewall.
 7. The combustionchamber unit of claim 1 forming a part of a dwelling having a basementwith exterior walls and wherein said unit includes a generallyrectangular inner chamber having top, bottom, back and sidewalls and aninner wall forming a part of said basement wall with said openingtherein.
 8. The unit in accordance with claim 1 forming a part of adwelling having a basement with exterior walls and wherein said unit isa preformed unit having preformed cast sidewalls, a front wall, top andbottom walls and a rear wall having an opening and means forinterconnections of the unit and the basement wall with said openingexposed within the dwelling.
 9. The unit in accordance with claim 1forming a part of a dwelling having a basement with exterior walls andwherein said unit is a preformed unit having preformed cast sidewalls, afront wall, top and bottom walls and a rear wall having an opening andmeans for securing of the unit abutting a basement wall, said basementwall having an opening aligned with the opening in the rear wall. 10.The combustion unit of claim 1 forming a part of a dwelling having abasement with exterior walls and wherein said exterior unit is apreformed unit having opposite sidewalls and a front wall and a top andbottom wall and a rear wall defining said chamber, said rear walllocated within the basement wall and forming a continuation andintegrated part of said basement wall.